Staples defeats New Canaan on PKs

FAIRFIELD -- Both the Staples and New Canaan boys soccer teams had good reason to be confident going into a penalty kick shootout in the FCIAC semifinals.

And why shouldn't they? On one hand you have junior Scott Levene, an All-FCIAC keeper who led the Rams to a state title in 2010 and on the other hand you have Staples senior James Hickok, who has become one of the better keepers in his own right this season.

As it turned out, it was Hickok who made two big saves in the shootout to lead the Wreckers to a 3-2 victory in PKs after a 0-0 tie in regulation and overtime Wednesday at Fairfield Ludlowe's Taft Field.

"I think you saw the two best keepers in the FCIAC," Staples head coach Dan Woog said. "Not to slight anyone else, there are great keepers in the FCIAC but Scott and James have sort of a rivalry. They're both superb keepers and it's nice to go into penalty kicks knowing that you have faith in your keeper. I think both teams did."

Thanks to Hickok's heroics, the fourth-seeded Wreckers (12-2-4) will try to win their fourth consecutive FCIAC title, and fifth in six years, when they play for the championship against the No. 2 Trumbull, a 3-0 winner over Darien in the other semifinal Friday. The Rams (9-4-5) will look to defend their Class L crown.

Staples started the shootout but Taylor McNair's shot went wide of the goal. Hickok then stepped to the line and made a diving stop to his left on a shot by Levene.

"It's my first time in all of high school I've ever been in a penalty shootout," said Hickok, who has 11 shutouts this year. "We've scored in plenty of overtimes. New Canaan played a great game today and they've been in a lot more penalty shootouts than we have. I believe we're the first team to beat them in a PK shootout and it feels awesome."

Max Hoberman converted his PK into the top middle of the net to give the Wreckers a 1-0 lead and things looked good for them when Tim Pritchard's PK sailed over the crossbar. Ben Root put Staples on top 2-0 when he booted his PK into the bottom corner.

Jon-Luke Ferrandino put the Rams on the board by converting his PK into the top right corner to cut the lead to 2-1. Steven Smith's PK went into the bottom middle for a 3-1 lead.

"We have five confident guys (to take penalty kicks)," Smith said. "We all thought we were going to make it. Obviously we missed two but we have a great goalie and that's what he's there to do. He's there to save them."

New Canaan pulled to within 3-2 when Charles Pickhardt placed his PK into the bottom middle. Dylan Evans sent his over the crossbar as the Rams remained alive.

But Steven Valente's PK was smothered by Hickok as the Staples players rushed onto the field in celebration.

"I forgot how it works and I wasn't sure if we won or not," Hickok said. "I wasn't really thinking because I didn't know how many we'd taken yet. I had committed to the right (on the PK) and it was right there."

Victor Sanchez, New Canaan's head coach, said both goalies are amazing and when it comes down to penalty kicks, anything can happen.

"I'm a little disappointed with us not playing as well as we could have or should have but at the end of the day, I'm content and happy with the way they battled and fought," he said. "I thought we had enough opportunities to finish the game in regular time and in overtime."

The Rams could've avoided PKs three minutes into the first overtime. A ball was played into the penalty area and as Hickok came out, the ball got by him and Valente had an open goal but Staples defender Jake Malowitz was there to knock it away.

"It's a credit to him," Hickok said of Malowitz. "He saved me twice and all season he's been there."

Staples came out strong in the first half, challenging Levene right away. A header by David Hoffman was saved by Levene in the third minute and a shot by Dylan Hoy off a cross by Hoffman went over the goal in the sixth minute.

From there, however, shots on goal were few and far between with both team's defense stepping up time and again.

"It was a really well-played game," Woog said. "New Canaan is so well-organized. This is our 14th one-goal or tie game. Our guys have made tremendous strides this year. They weren't playing this type of defense at the beginning of the year."